Executive Summary
This report describes how smartphones, when used properly and in moderation, can noticeably increase productivity in business. This report focuses more on the banking industry and explains how smartphones have a large impact on how the company operates as well as how much work can get done in a given time frame.
Smartphones are used by many people on a daily basis and help them keep in contact with their colleagues, friends and family via email, social networking applications, phone calls and text messages. When used appropriately in a business setting they can be used in place of laptops because applications are available to users which allow them to create and edit files such as excel spreadsheets, word documents and presentations. Other features that ensure the devices are used for an appropriate manner are the ability to track usage of the devices and the ability to remove files remotely from the phone if it is lost or stolen.
Another great thing Apple has provided for businesses is the ability to receive bulk licensing on applications through their B2B program. This program also allows other companies to create custom applications for your business, that being said, they can integrate it to run almost seamlessly with your existing set up.
The low cost factor of the smartphones data plan will also help enforce what a user can or cannot do. The employees surveyed have stated that the two features that would make them most productive on their smartphone would be access to email and also the office suites which the company would preload onto the phone before issuing them.
To ensure that smartphones are issued and used properly, the Bank of Canada
1. Check into usage frequently for each issued phone.
2. Sign up for Apple’s B2B program if selecting the iPhone as the device they would like to supply employees with.
3. Implement a low cost data plan for each device as most users will be using documents and email only.
4. Implement a rule set that states all employees in each company must make their number and email available to all colleagues.
5. IT departments should be knowledgeable about all features on the devices issues in case of emergency.